Church of Scientology Banned from Moscow

A Russian Court banned the Church of Scientology from Moscow after it found that the religion infringes on the freedom of religion clause.

A Russian Court banned the Church of Scientology from Moscow after it found that the religion infringes on the freedom of religion clause.

The government ordered the Moscow location to be dissolved. Lawyers for the elaborate church said the organization didn’t violate anything, and the ruling was unfounded. The Church of Scientology will be closed down and liquidated. A commission will need to be hired from the church to oversee the liquidation of assets within the next six months.

The church was built in 2011 just outside of Red Square, but was registered in 1994.

This is not the first time a Russian Court took issue with the church.

In 2011 the court ordered that all books by the founder of the Church of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard be purged. USA Today reported that the reason was thr books "contain calls for extremist activities” by the author.

The Church of Scientology was founded in 1954, and has an estimated 10 million followers, who believe that “Scientology is a religion that offers a precise path leading to a complete and certain understanding of one’s true spiritual nature and one’s relationship to self, family, groups, Mankind, all life forms, the material universe, the spiritual universe and the Supreme Being,” according to the Church of Scientology’s website.

The Russian Ministry of Justice said the church raises too much conflict.

"The representatives of the Church of Scientology have created many legal conflicts by themselves by restricting the religious freedom through the use of trademarks.” Russia ordered the organization to shutdown as the church was looking to trademark “Scientology” in order to become a religious body or what they deemed as a cult.

The Church of Scientology is viewed as very controversial due to the doctrines as it was founded by a science fiction writer, but is considered a religion in many countries, and people have the right to worship as they choose, which Russia is being criticized for in the decision. One of the most famous flowers of the religion is Tom Cruise, John Travolta, and Juliette Lewis.